“Improve Yahoo! Mail” Research Project FAQ
What is the “Improve Yahoo! Mail” Research Project?
The “Improve Yahoo! Mail” Research Project will review and analyze a small percentage of user emails, IMs (instant messages), and other communications content to help Yahoo! plan new features and products, create better advertising experiences, and better understand our users' needs and desires.
What information will Yahoo! collect as part of Research Project?
Yahoo! will collect all the emails, IMs, and other communication content sent, received, and stored by participants in the Research Project.
How will Yahoo! use the information collected from the Research Project?
The information collected as part of the Research Project will be used to research topics like the subjects that are important to users, how users communicate with each other, and how to better personalize products, content, and advertising.
How can I withdraw from the Research Project?
You can withdraw from this Research Project by going to the “Applications” window in Yahoo! Mail and clicking on “Improve Yahoo! Mail”. Follow the instructions and the Research Project will stop collecting your emails, IMs, and other communications content from that date forward and will delete within approximately two weeks the information you previously contributed to the Research Project.
Who will review the information collected?
A select few employees and trusted partners working on Yahoo!’s behalf will process, review, and analyze the emails, IMs, and communications content that are included in the Research Project.
How will my communications be stored?
Your communications are copied to a secure database accessible only by the select employees and trusted partners allowed to access the data. If you decide to withdraw from the Research Project, the data will be deleted from the Research Project’s databases within approximately two weeks.
Why do you need this?
It is important to be able to review and analyze emails from actual users to make sure our products are working as both Yahoo! and our users expect them to, including developing an understanding of the effectiveness and accuracy of not only new Yahoo! Mail product features, but also the personalization of new and existing products, features, content, and advertising.